IT Administrators Influence on an Arch. Firm

[mbowers]

Ok, i don't want to get off on a rant here, but we've recently discovered that our IT Administrator appears to be a force to be reckoned with. So much so that a person was laid off over their 'inabilities to see eye to eye'. Over the past few years our cad manager and our IT admin have butted heads over certain issues pertaining to how the firm should be run when it comes to software and hardware implementation and maintenance.

 

Does one make the argument that an IT professional should have more influence over the Board of Directors when it comes to the vision of the firm, or from the CAD manager: who in essence, is the voice of the architects, designers, and cad technicians that actually produce the drawings and get the projects done on time and under budget?

 

The reasoning for my questions is because i have been 'tapped' to become 'the new voice' for the firm. Our firm isn't huge..about 60 but we have 2 offices. We use a multitude of software...Autocad, Revit, Sketchup, Max, Photoshop etc. and when it comes to health and future outlook of the firm, the BOD's (board of directors) immediately turn to the IT Admin for advice. With all due respect, the IT doesn't know anything about architecture, design, construction, client interaction or whether to scratch his/her watch, or wind his/her butt.

 

We're not enemies by any means, however i've been recognized by the firm for my leadership and my take charge philosophy, but if im going to be marked for death because i have a different view of where our firm should head with regards to design and the tools we use, then i'm not so sure i want to take that responsibility. In the perfect world we should be collaborating on what we as the designers need out of our IT department and what will help us do our jobs better, if it means that i need more RAM in my computer then the IT department should find the means necessary to make that happen, not to tell the BOD's that we need to use X software when nobody supports the use of X software, nor feel it's the best choice given the circumstances. Blah. Ok. Sorry this is long winded, does anyone else out there have a similar predicament? Have you resolved this in a civil manner? HELP?!

 

Thanks in advance.

[SandmanNinja]

That's why CIO (Chief Information Officer) has become a standard part of organisations.

The IT reports to him, he expresses his views and concerns to the Board, and then he hands down decisions to his IT group.

 

Beats having IT saavy people using big words and acronyms to bedazzle technophobic board members.

 

I've been in IT departments in a number of companies and we've never been able to influence the money makers with anything other than "you need to give us money for spare parts", and suggestions for an upgrade path for the company.

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

If someone has not used the software on a production basis then they have no grounds for stating what software should be used for production. Simply reading about what software is the best is no excuse for actually using it, just like reading a drivers manual is no substitute for experience gained from actually driving on the road.

[shaneis]

...when it comes to health and future outlook of the firm, the BOD's (board of directors) immediately turn to the IT Admin for advice.

 

That's the problem, right there. He/ She's only "a force to be reckoned with" because the Board has empowered him/ her. I hear where you're at - it's an unenviable position to walk into the shadow of a psychopathic sys-admin, even worse if the Board thinks they've got a solar powered butt.

 

My best advice would be to take him/ her completely out of the picture and deal directly with your superiors. Will you be reporting directly to the Board or to a more senior manager? I assume you'll be making an inaugural presentation to one or the other. Plan it out, make sure you present the directions you wish to take and the how's, why's and costs/ savings succinctly and in plain English. Emphasise the benefits to efficiency that a "well-tooled" studio affords and that now more than ever, efficiency is tantamount to profitability and sustainability.

 

Do this, and your Board will know from day-one what your goals are and how you intend on achieving them. You will also have set the grounds for any future battles (very Sun-Tzu, yes?).

 

Keep it in perspective - you're the driver, he/ she's the mechanic and it's their job to keep you competitive. Remember this and make sure the Board remembers it as well.

 

Good hunting!

[mbowers]

Thanks for your replies Shane, Joel, & Travis. I will focus on an outline with my thoughts and recommendations.

 

My hope is that the BOD's will eventually see that what i put forth will be the 'road' or the path, the users will be the car to get us down the road, the IT is the mechanic and the BOD's will be the gas to get us there. It can't really work any other way.

 

I have no doubt in my mind that i have the backing of the architects, designers, technicians..but i want to make sure that in these grim economic times that i look out for #1 and not step in #2 (r.i.p. Rodney Dangerfield). Thanks again.

[3dp]

"Keep it in perspective - you're the driver, he/ she's the mechanic and it's their job to keep you competitive. Remember this and make sure the Board remembers it as well."

 

that made me smile - place i'm at now is a little more backwoods than i am used and they have just locked the usb ports so now digital cameras or ipods or flash drives etc

so when i have a card full of site photos i now go to i.t. to download files

 

i'm going to be taking this up with them shortly

actually mechanic is too good for some of them and oily rag would suffice

[Jeff Mottle]

Don't know that I can offer up much advice, other than to comment that the "IT attitude" you describe seems to be a character trait of every IT person I have ever met. Good luck with your new position and, if I may, an early congratulations.

[andyH]

For what its worth, here's my take on things. The IT admins responsibility is the delivery of tools and services to his/her customers (the users). If the IT person is not an architect or 3d artist then they have no place making recommendations or decisions about such software,

 

I am an IT person, so I know what I am talking about. Aside from non specific tools such as security procedures, back end (IT) architecture such as anti-virus software and backup procedures, your IT admin should not be making those types of recommendations without some level of expert advice. If I were you I would have a commitee formed to make decisions about the inclusion of suitable tools to your pipeline. The commitee should be made up of representatives from each stage of the pipeline. Invite your IT person to the commitee and point out you want his/her input on IT related questions regarding the tools that the commitee has under discussion, and then you can ease your IT person into safely delivering those tools to the workforce.

[Ray]

Ok, i don't want to get off on a rant here, but we've recently discovered that our IT Administrator appears to be a force to be reckoned with. So much so that a person was laid off over their 'inabilities to see eye to eye'. Over the past few years our cad manager and our IT admin have butted heads over certain issues pertaining to how the firm should be run when it comes to software and hardware implementation and maintenance.

 

Four years ago I could have written that paragraph word for word regarding the situation where I used to work. Our IT guy would go so far as to take screenshots of the hard drive contents of us 3d guys, trying to find evidence of wrongdoing ("Oh, look, they have mp3s on their computers! They must have downloaded them illegally!") But he was stupid enough to leave the "evidence" (screenshots) behind so we knew what he was doing. It didn't bode well for him in the end.

[Ky Lane]

Well thats like asking the mechanic how the car racing team should be run. Maybe they should ask the driver?